| 12 and Holding | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster for 12 and Holding |
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| Directed by | Michael Cuesta |
| Produced by | Brian Bell Michael Cuesta Jenny Schweitzer Leslie Urdang Amy Robinson |
| Written by | Anthony Cipriano |
| Starring | Conor Donovan Zoe Weizenbaum Jesse Camacho Jeremy Renner |
| Music by | Pierre Földes |
| Cinematography | Romeo Tirone |
| Distributed by | IFC Films |
| Release date(s) | May 19, 2005 |
| Running time | 95 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $400,000 (estimated) |
| Box office | $119,195 |
12 and Holding is a 2005 film directed by Michael Cuesta. The film is distributed by IFC Films and was released on May 19, 2005 in limited theaters.
Contents |
The film explores adolescent issues through the minds of three friends and their reactions after a boy named Rudy Carges (Conor Donovan) dies in a tree house set on fire by local bullies Jeff and Kenny.
The boy's twin brother Jacob, a boy with a huge birthmark (also played by Donovan), decides to seek revenge against the bullies. Leonard (Jesse Camacho) who's overweight, survives the tree house fire but loses his sense of taste and smell. This prompts him to go on a diet, which isn't welcomed by his obese family. The boys' female friend Malee (Zoe Weizenbaum) tries to befriend an adult named Gus (Jeremy Renner), a grief-stricken patient of her therapist mother, Carla (Annabella Sciorra). Jacob's family falls apart after the death of his brother. But shortly after, his parents adopt a boy so Jacob won't feel alone. Meanwhile, Malee begins to have a crush on Gus and changes the song for her recital to one Gus liked, just for him. As time goes by, she sees Gus as her "soul mate". She sneaks into his house one night to find him grieving. Afraid to confront him, Malee steals his gun and leaves.
Jacob frequently visits Jeff and Kenny, who are serving time in a juvenile hall. Jacob initially threatens them until one day Jeff commits suicide. Jacob befriends Kenny, soon learning he has an early release and is illegally moving to New Mexico. Meanwhile, Leonard's father decides to take his sisters to Florida instead of Leonard (who would usually go) as a form of punishment for Leonard dieting. Leonard decides to force his mother to lose weight by trapping her in the cellar. They both end up in the hospital after a gas leak in their home. Next, Jacob and Kenny agree that Jacob can go with him to New Mexico. Malee visits Gus and removes her clothes in an attempt to seduce him. Instead, Gus calls Malee's mother to come and pick her up. The next day, Gus explains to therapist Carla about the last fire he ever fought (which involved killing an injured little girl, upon the girl's request), claiming that Malee wanted him to take her pain away, upon already knowing she had a crush on him. Meanwhile, Jacob's mother informs him that his brother has been murdered, and she wants Kenny dead, reminding him of his planned revenge. The night of escape for Jacob finally comes and he meets up with Kenny. Jacob insists on going through a construction site which he says is a secret route. Once there, Jacob points a gun at Kenny (the same one Malee had stolen from Gus) and tells him "you killed him" before shooting him dead. Jacob buries the body and leaves.
After the vengeance, Jacob now accepts his adopted brother. Malee begins visiting her estranged father, and Leonard's family finally starts eating healthily. The movie ends with Jacob's mother smiling at him from inside the house seemingly knowing about what he has done.